Maniyarayile Ashokan

In a fictional village, Unnimaya is described as the most beautiful woman who attracts many suitors. Ashokan is an ordinary man who struggles with failed marriage proposals. The stage is set for love, envy, and social pressure.

Unnimaya elopes with Padmanabhan, leaving the village to start a new life. The event shatters the villagers' expectations and foreshadows the trouble Ashokan will face in love. The tale begins to revolve around beauty, desire, and consequences.

On the night of his arranged marriage, the bride asks whether this is his second marriage. He recalls his earlier dreams of getting married and the misfortunes that have followed him. The moment marks a turning point in his outlook on love and fate.

Ashokan is repeatedly questioned by villagers and teased by his cousin Ajayan. The social pressure compounds his loneliness and self-doubt. The scene highlights the stigma around bachelorhood in the village.

His loving parents and friends Ratheesh and Shaiju stand by him through his trials. They support him emotionally and help him cope with setbacks. Their presence offers a lifeline amid the social pressure.

Ashokan's father and Narayanan present a marriage proposal to Narayanan's daughter Anju. Anju rejects Ashokan because he isn't fair-skinned or tall enough. The rejection reinforces his sense of inadequacy and social scrutiny.

Ashokan learns of Shyama's love and they attempt to marry after gaining her family's consent. The planned wedding is called off when his horoscope predicts the death of his first wife. The setback deepens his heartbreak and superstitious doubts.

Ratheesh falls in love with Rani, a teacher, and they marry. Their union provides a contrast to Ashokan's relentless troubles and brings a glimmer of happiness to his circle. The marriage reinforces the possibility of finding companionship in friends.

Ashokan consults an astrologer for guidance on his troubled horoscope. The astrologer prescribes marrying a plantain to prevent harm to humans. The advice pushes Ashokan into an extraordinary and surreal course of action.

Ashokan marries the plantain and talks to it regularly, treating it as a wife. He views the plantain as a partner who can fulfill his need for companionship. The act marks a drastic departure from social norms.

The plantain falls, leaving him heartbroken and disoriented. Later, two corms from the plantain are planted again, and he begins to regard these two plantains as his children. The bizarre sequence deepens his emotional confusion.

A new marriage proposal comes, but Ashokan is reluctant since he is already married to the plantain. Ratheesh and others attempt to reason with him, and he is eventually taken to a mental health facility for reflection. The event signals a breaking point and a search for reality.

After a talk with his cousin Arjun, he accepts the match with Indu. On the wedding night, he tells Indu that this is his first marriage, acknowledging the unusual path he has taken. The story returns to a conventional union, albeit with a twist of his experiences.